Automating a coffee shop chain using self-taught coding skills with Eamonn Cottrell [Interview #151]

On this week's episode of the podcast, I interview Eamonn Cottrell. He's a software engineer who also runs a local chain of coffee shops in Knoxville. Eamonn taught himself to code using freeCodeCamp. And he's since published 37 freeCodeCamp tutorials on using productivity and automation using spreadsheets.

We talk about:

• Eamonn love of coffee and how he bought VHS tapes to learn latte art

• How he finds time to expand his skills in between running coffee shops and ultra-marathoning

• How he used spreadsheets to automate the logistics of running coffee shops

• How he balances being a musician and writer with the practical realities of providing for a family of 6

Can you guess what song I'm playing in the intro?

Support comes from the 11,113 kind folks who support freeCodeCamp through a monthly donation. Join these kind folks and get involved in our mission by going to donate.freecodecamp.org

CORRECTION: Vincent van Gogh was supported by his younger brother – not his brother in-law. van Gogh never married so he never had a brother in law. I'm not sure why I thought that. Also, he seems to have sold more than one painting in his life (as many of us were taught in school), but nowhere near enough paintings to support himself as an artist.

Links we talk about during our conversation:

Eamonn's freeCodeCamp articles: https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/author/sieis/

Eamonn's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@eamonncottrell

Excel-based esports: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2QC6VQXo8U

Ultra Marathons: https://www.youtube.com/@runtired

Got Sheet: https://www.gotsheet.xyz/

Progress and Perfection: https://www.progressandperfection.com/

Eamonn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eamonncottrell/

Eamonn on Twitter: https://x.com/EamonnCottrell